Blogging with the Williams

What a day this has been (Friday, May 14) spent all day at MD Anderson meeting with our new doctor - Dr. Franco DeMonte and then running to various departments for tests. Dr. DeMonte explained everything so thoroughly to us today and I know Terry is in the best hands possible.

Some good news today concerning the tumor. Terry's tumor is skull-based - this means that the tumor is outside of the wall lining of the brain. Dr. DeMonte concurred with the prior diagnosis that it is a very large, slow growing tumor which Terry has had for many years. The tumor has pushed into the eye socket and the eye is a concern so Terry spent quite a bit of time in ophthalmology today. Terry's surgery will be a full craniotomy and will last about 6 hours.

The most encouraging news for us today was the fact that Dr. DeMonte concurred that this tumor has a great chance of being benign. Of course, the definite answer on this will be once it is removed and sent to pathology but chances are good this is the case. This to me is the best possible outcome. There are some complications that can occur but if we are not dealing with cancer, we can deal with all the rest.

Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. I believe - need to actually double check that. Hospital stay without any complications will be 3-5 days so by next weekend Terry could be home and all of this behind us.

Terry will be home for the weekend and go back on Monday for a "very long day" of testing. Anyone who wants to stop by the house this weekend, please do so but give me a call first because Terry is under heavy meds and sleeps alot. The headaches are much more painful than in the hospital because the pills don't work as well as those intravenous meds. However, he has been enjoying visiting on the phone and visitors in person. Terry is in such good spirits you would not know he is facing a surgery like this.

The good news of the day certainly has lifted all of our spirits and I personally feel everything is going to turn out ok and life will even be sweeter once this is behind us. Thanks again for all the good wishes, phone calls, etc. I am sorry I am running behind on emails, answering calls etc. so hope this blog helps everyone keep informed.